Okay, since I'm in a "stir the pot" kind of mood, I feel like confessing something. Now, those of you who know me in the real world will (probably) not be surprised by this. Here it is, ready?
I cannot stand James Dobson.
There, I said it, a long held secret in some cases. Phew!
Now let me explain myself.
I consider myself an Evangelical Christian, but I'm an anomaly. I'm only one of four people I know who consider themselves EC, love Jesus, and yet did not vote for Bush, are quite skeptical of religious right-wing conservatives, and strongly dislike James Dobson (among other things). My reason being that he, and many others like him, implies in much of his rhetoric that if you don't believe/act/do as he says you should, you are not a "good Christian" and that you are opposed to "people of faith". Ugh. Add onto that his view that public schools are the root of all evil and that the answer to all our problems is to home school (don't assume I dislike all forms of homeschooling.........I'll just leave it at that) and it has gotten to the point that if any book, movie, event, etc is endorsed by James Dobson or Focus on the Family, I tend immediately dislike it.
I always thought that me and our small band of rebels (names will be withheld to protect the innocent) were the only ECs that felt/thought this way. Then, I discovered Jim Wallis and his book God's Politics. Thrilled, I was! (By the way, I discovered him through Jon Stewart and the Daily Show, hehe). I tend to agree more with Mr. Wallis than with the people in politics who are "supposed" to represent us ECs.
Well, now you know, I'm a closet liberal. I don't think that political choices should be based ONLY on abortion and gay marriage, I think that as a Christian, there are other things just as important to God, that should be considered as well. But THAT is another post.
G'Day!
7 comments:
I'm not the biggest fan of Dobson. My sister-in-law gave me his books about raising boys, though, and they're not bad. I just take what I find useful and dismiss the rest.
I'd heard (haven't actually read it) that his book Raising Boys really just talks about why a parent should homeschool. Since I don't intend to homeschool, I didn't bother to read it.
Sorry, I feel bad for not posting, now. I thought that maybe Dobson was an actor I have never heard of. I've vaguely heard of the series. It's okay with me that you don't like him.
Wow, I am really happy to read this. I am a liberal and not very religious (but believe in God and Jesus), so when I see our government being taken over by this group of people who say if you don't vote the way they do, you are basically going to hell...it bothers me. And its easy to lump all EC's into the same group (just as I am sure its easy to lump all Democrats or all liberals into the same group). So I am happy to see your post! It was an eye opener for me and I appreciate it!
I'm leery of anyone like Dobson or Robertson who speak as if they have an exclusive hotline to God that grants them the right to impose their particular version of faith and values on everyone. Of course, I also have little use for the dogmatists on the other side. Unfortunately, it seems like both sides have decided that polarization is preferable to compromise.
Yeah, I seem to be one of the only Evengelical Christians I know that lean more toward the left, sometimes it is lonely. Yeah, one of my biggest beefs with the religious right is the attitude that says, "I alone know what God says, and you DON'T!"
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